aos MBAICATICAT 20191 AT 2014|CAT Onine| MBA 2013]MBA 2014IMBA Entrance Exame| AT Tect|Preparaton| CAT Questions Absolute Value as a Distance from a Point Absolute value |x| of a number x can be understood to be the distance of x from the origin. Absolute value can also be regarded as the distance of = real number from zero on the number line. This is why the absolute value is never negative as the distance between two points is never negative. Have a look at the following figure: —— 3 Se Sa ne Ont ws —— It can be seen that the distance of 3 from zero is 3 units and the distance of -4 from zero is 4 units, Therefore, |3]= 3 and |-a] Which points represent the equation Answer: since |) 1s equal to distance of x from the origin, we are looking for those numbers which are lying at 4 Units of distance from zero. We can see from the figure given below that the distance of both the points, 4 and, is + units From zero. iW +4 = oe Therefore, the equation |x| = 4 represents the points x = 4 and x = Which points represent the equation |x| < 4? Answer: From the previous example, we know that the distances of points x = 4 and x = —4 are 4 units from zero. Therefore, |x| < 4 means all the points whose distance from zero is less than 4 units. All these points wil lie in the blue region between 4 and ~ 4, as shown below: = + —_,, ee _— ‘Therefore, the paints representing the equation |x| < 4 can be represented by the inequality ~4 < x <4 What if we want to measure distance from s other number in place of zero? We use [xa] to denote Gistance of number from the number a, Therefore, [x 3] denotes distance of number xfrom Zand |x + S| denotes distance of number x from -. Solve the equality | ~ 3] = 5. Answer: We know that |x ~ 3| denotes distance of point x from the number 3. Therefore, we are looking for those numbers x whose distance from 3 is equal to 5 units on the number line. From the figure given below, we can seo that there are two such points, @ and -2, whose distance from 3 is equal to S units on the number line. 321012945678 beet ed Which region represents the inequality |x ~ 3| > 5? Answer: From the previous question, the blue dots represent the points satisfying the equality |x - 3|= 5 and the red line in the figure below represents the region satisfying the points for which |x ~ 3] < 5 because in this region, the distance of the point x ~3 from zero will be less than § 3432101284567 8 ip:tetalgacha.commodtorumisscuss.prpide2111 amtaos MBAICATICAT 20191 AT 2014|CAT Onine| MBA 2013]MBA 2014IMBA Entrance Exame| AT Tect|Preparaton| CAT Questions 3210123945678 boeteato sod Which region represents the inequality |x - 3] > 5? Answer: Fram the previous question, the blue dats represent the points satisfying the equality |x —3]= 5 and the red line in the figure below represents the region satistying the points far which |x - 2] ¢ 5 because in this region, ‘he distance of the point x - 3 from zero will be less than 5, 5 -4-92-101253 4567 8 Therefore, the rest of the region on the number line will represent the inequality | green 3]> 5, as shown below in fe gpg S-+-3-2-101234 567 8 Therefore, the equality is true for x < -2 and x > 8. For which value of xis |2x + 3 Answer: |2x + 3) =8=|[x+ 2 | =4. Therefore, me are looking for those numbers x which lie at 2 distance of 4 units from -1.5. The points are -5.5 and 2.5 ‘So what does [x—al + |x—b] mean? We know that [x a) and |x — bl are the distances of number x from numbers a and b, respectively. Let's see how this function behaves, a b a or flx-alt}—qy-p|-_ From the figure, we can see that when x is Iying between 2 and b, the sum of the distances of x from a and bis constant and is equal to distance Between 2.3nd b, i.e. |2~B|. When x les on either side of a and b, the sum For which value af xis |x-2| + |x +3] =a? answer: |x-2| = x +3] = |x-2| + |x-(-3)]. This is the sum of the distances of number x from 2 and -3. We know that if x Hes betwoen 2 and -3, the |x-2) ~ |x = 3| would be equal to distance botween 2 and -3, 12. 5. Thorofore, x cannot lie between 2 and ~3 or the equality will not be satisfied. Lot x lie on cithar side of 2 and ~3 at distances and § + ¢ fram two numbers, 23 shown in the figure below: ae rs s2Hotz sas x-2) + |x+3| =855+c+ce=8>c=15, Therefore, 3.5 and -4.5 will both satisfy the above equality. What is the minimum value of |x 2] + [x-+3] + [x-Sl? newer: |x. 2| |x 3] ~ |x~5| = sum of distances of number x from -3, 2 and 5. The extreme points on the number line out of thace three points are 3 and S. As we have seen already, [x= 2| + |x| would be equal to8 if lies between ~9 and S. Ta keep |x 2] + x-+ 31 + x S| as minimum we need to keep |x ~ 2| 28 minimum when x les Between ~3 and § as /x + 2| + Ix~ S| ig constant in this range. Therefore, we Keep x = 2.20 that x= 2) = 0, Therefore, the minimum value of |x What is the minimum value of [x= 1] + ip:tetalgacha.commodtorumisscuss.prpide2111 antaos MBAICATICAT 20191 AT 2014|CAT Onine| MBA 2013]MBA 2014IMBA Entrance Exame| AT Tect|Preparaton| CAT Questions (x if x>0 Joir x Lait x 3, 0forx=2 and 3, and negative for 2 < x < 3. Therefore, we put positive sign when x 5x ~ 6 is postive and negative sign when ie Si + 6 fs negative, p2 -5K+6 iF x <2 0 if x 08 - 5x+6) if 23 For which value of xis [3x + 4] = 2+ 4x7 4 answer: [3x +4) =3lx+ 3 ‘Therefore, | 3x + 4| changes sign at x = 4 case 1: x> -+ 3 33x +422 + 4x 3% = 2. As the value obtained lies in the region x > ~, the solution is valid case 2: x< -4 3 As the vu obtained oes ro tein te region << ~4, the slo is NOT va S444) 22s axe ‘Therefore, only value that satisfies the equality is Find the values of x for which [3x2 - Sx + 6| = 4x = 12 Answer: AS we have seen [2 -sxr6 i we sx +6) iF 2 -sxteifxa3 -sx+6]- 10% Case 1: When x<2and x23 ip:tetalgacha.commodtorumisscuss.prpide2111 anaos MBAICATICAT 2019]CAT 2014|CAT Online| MBA 2013]MBA 2014]MBA Entrance Exane|CAT Test|Preparation CAT Questions sd sxe 44-123 @ x therefore Both the solutions are valid 0 x = -2 and 3. since both the values lia in the intervals we have assumed, case 2: When 2 x29 + 18 =0 3x 1,6. The first solution (x = 3) is valid ‘according to earlier case but the second solution (x = 6) does not lie in the interval we have assumed. Therefore, x = 6 is not valic Hence, 2 and 3 are the only solutions. In the X-¥ plane, the ares of the region bounded by the graph of lx + yl + lx ~ yl = 4is (CAT 2005) is 2.12 3.16 4.20 Answer: The easy method to solve this question is to take cases for positive/negative values of the functions (x + y) and («- y), and remove the modulus sign, Case 1: Both (x + y) and (x ~ y) positiv Sixtyl+ix-ylexty+x-ysd= Case 2: (x + y) positive and (x - y) negativ Sietyls len yl=xty-(e-ystoy Case 3: (x + y) negative and (x ~ y) positive: = k=yl+lx-yl = +) +0 -y=4sy ase 4: (x + y) negative and (x - y) negative BS lx+yl 4 ix—yl = G+ y)-(k-y) 24 ‘The four lines are shown in the figure below: ‘As we can see, the enclosed area = 4x4 = 16 We shall discuss this further in our CST Club students. I shall cover some problems based on this in the CET Club this week, If you think this article was useful, help others by sharing it with your friends! omens OVS Basics 8 Deeember 2007, 09:32 AM wT6, Yet another super lecture! Ang, yes I completely agree wth what You said about teaching. tn fact, { have mysell ught CAT'OT guys In Chennai aaere em my job in SF Zeckor And I too Owe a great ber of my unde'stancing so my stusene nr ip:tetalgacha.commodtorumisscuss.prpide2111 sit